In this latest episode of the podcast, we are joined by Dr. James Holt from the University of Chester, a dedicated teacher educator and researcher whose work is transforming how we approach Religious Education. This conversation dives deep into the essential—and often challenging—decisions behind selecting which religions to teach and how to represent them with authenticity and depth.
Key highlights from the episode include:
Beyond the "Sexy" Bits: A critical look at the tendency to focus on "hooks" (like reggae or marijuana in Rastafari) rather than providing a holistic view of a faith's traditions and practices.
Reflecting the Community: Why using local census data is vital for choosing worldviews that mirror the diversity of our own classrooms.
The Boundaries of RME: A fascinating debate on "What is RME?"—including whether mythology and ancient religions have a place in the modern curriculum.
Navigating Non-Religious Views: Exploring the nuance of "The Nones" and how to teach the diversity within non-religious perspectives.
Resources: From James’s "Understanding" book series to his free CPD resources on Rastafari and the Latter Day Saints, there are countless tools mentioned to help boost your subject knowledge.
There is so much to unpack in this episode, and these notes are just the beginning. To get the full breakdown of the resources mentioned and the pedagogical shifts discussed, be sure to read the detailed notes here: https://learningrmps.com/?p=2870
We would love to keep this conversation going! After you’ve listened or read the notes, please reach out with your thoughts via email at learningrmps@gmail.com.
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